Electrical switch.



B. D. HORTON.

ELBGTRIOAL SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED 11017.1, 191s WWI um:

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

BBYSON D. HORTON, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Pea-2E3, 1915.

Application filed November 1, 1913. SeriaI No. 798,679.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, BRYSON D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State 5 of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full,

clear, and concise description.

.30; s My present invention relates to certain improvements in that type of switch which is commonly. referred to as iron clad, that is-an electrical switch in which the switch mechanism is. mounted within a metallic 5 casing, so designed as to prevent or reduce hazard or risk incident to devices of the kind which are used to control high electriccurrentsy'such a switch is illustrated an'd described-inmy previous application Serial No. 7 59,005, filed April 5, 1913, upon which construction, the present invention'is an improvement;

-;One of the objects of my present invention isto provide the metallic casing with a I hinged cover which is self acting'in maintainin'g'its closed position so that the electricalconnections, and conductor parts are unexposed.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a novel form of bearing for the switch operating handle or crank. I In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the improvements which form j the subject of my present invention. 85'- Figure 1, illustrates an iron clad switch side elevation with the hinged cover in dotted line position whenopen to permit of access to the interior thereof. Fig. 2, is a front interior view of the switch casing 40 with the cover partly broken. away. Fig.

3 1s a detail of one of two like parts which I constitute a bearing member for the switch operating handle.

' j Indetail, 1 indicates the body or receptacle portion of the casing, 2 a cover which is. hinged to said body portion at 3. The hinged portions of the receptacle consists of coiiperating rearward extensions 4 and 5 formedintegral with the cover and body portions respectively, the pivots 3 extending therein and forming the journal therefor. In. order to prevent the. cover from being opened and left in thisposition so that the interiorswitch mechanism will be exposed to and to prevent any-danger incident there'- L to, I provide a projection-6, extending rearwardly and cast integral with the hinged portion 4 which projection acts as a limiting stop permitting the cover to be opened only to a definite fixed extent. The cover 2 when opened to its fullest extent, assumes the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1. In this position, the rearwardly extending projection 6 abuts or engages the top surface of the receptacle 1 and prevents the lid or cover from being oscillated to any great extent in opening direction. As soon as the hand is removed from the cover,the cover will swingon its'pivot to closed position of its own weight, owing to the fact center of gravity with respect to the pivotal point 3 of the hinge. In this manner, it is I impossible for the user to leave the switch cover open after once having gained access to the receptacle for any desired reason, I

,70 that the cover has not reached or passed the WVithin the metallic housing 1, is mounted I the. switch mechanism with an extending operating arm or crank which provides for exterior manipulation thereof. The switch '80 mechanism may be conveniently described as consisting of a pair of switch jaw coning. In order to form a substantial journal or bearingfor the arm, I have devised novel inexpensive means which consists of sheet These cup-like memhaiviug perforated ears 17 and two of such members comprise the bearing for the han-, I

dle. The bearing is associated with the handle portion before the latter is bent into final finished'form, that;is,-"the handle is projected through apertures extending through the center of the cupumembers and thereafter .bent into- U-shape form as illustrated. When this has been accomplished, the handle and cup memberslare assembled in their metal stampings formed into cup like mem- .b'ers 15 (see Fig. 3).

bers are provided with flanged portions 16 proper relationon each'sidebf the wall of the casing, while the'ha'ndle is being inserted through the slot 1 4 mm its proper position,"

whereupon the cufplinembers are rivetedtogether with the side of the casing byrivets 1 18. In order to substantially fill up the cutout orslotted portion '14, and in order'to is not only inexpensive to manufacture, but

. serves as a substantial article of its kind and provides an increased bearing'and alinin 4 member for the handle,

l/Vhile I have illustrated certain details of construction, I do not wish to be limited with respect thereto, as it is manifest that certain changes may suggest themselves to those skilled'in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new' herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a 1

1. Ina switch ofthe character described, a housing provided with a slotted side, .a substantially U-shaped operating handle for the switch mechanism and a coiiperating pair of sheet metal bearing members assembled upon said operating handle, said operating handle and bearing members adapted.

to be mounted in the slot of the side of the casing, said bearing members when posisides of the slotted side of the casing and providing bearing and alining means for saidhandle y 2. A bearing fora switch handle, comprising two like sheet metal stampings from sheet-metal and provided with coinci- 'tioned being made fast to the respective dent circumferential flanges, said flanges serving as means for attachment to a switchcasing, the center of ;the cup-shaped parts being provided-with openings to receive the operating handle and to serve as a bearing therefor.

'In witness whereof" I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnessesthis 29th day of October, 1913. BRYSON n. HORTON. Witnesses: i i

HAR Y S. FREEMAN, IcNA'nUs W. KAHN. 

